[Factors associated with obesity in a sedentary activity user group at the Dantokpa market (Benin).] / Facteurs associés à l'obésité au sein d'un groupe d'usagers du marché Dantokpa (Bénin).

OBJECTIVE: To study obesity prevalence and associated factors in sedentary activity users at the Dantokpa market, Cotonou. METHOD: From October to November 2016, 460 subjects were selected by stratified survey. Anthropometric data and information regarding knowledge and practices of the subjects related to obesity were collected by a questionnaire. The factors associated with obesity were researched by a logistic regression model. RESULTS: The obesity prevalence was 35.7%. It was more predominant in women (P < 0.0001) and those aged between 38-57 years (P < 0.0001). Insufficient or false knowledge and insufficient or bad practices concerning obesity cohabited among Dantokpa market sedentary users. The obesity associated factors were the sex (OR = 2.3; P < 0.006), the age of 38 to 57 years (2.3; P = 0.014), marital status (2.5; P = 0.003), knowledge of physical incapacity as a consequence of obesity (1.8; P < 0.0001), daily sedentary duration between three and seven hours (18.0; P < 0.0001) and more than seven hours (85.1; P < 0.0001), family childbirth circumstances (1.9; P = 0.002) revenue increasing circumstances (3.1; P = 0.001) and sleep duration (2.01; P = 0.003). CONCLUSION: This study suggests the necessity for the implementation of strategies including notably physical activities and knowledge about obesity in order to reduce obesity prevalence in Dantokpa market sedentary activity users.

Respiratory Disorders Related to e-Waste Exposure among Workers in the Informal Sector in a Sub-Saharan African City: An Exposed Nonexposed Study.

INTRODUCTION: Exposure to electrical and electronic equipment waste (e-waste) has become a growing health concern. The objective of this study was to measure the effect of exposure to e-waste on respiratory symptoms and on lung function parameters in workers involved in informal recycling activities in Cotonou city, Benin. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study, in which exposed e-waste workers in Cotonou city were randomly selected. A matching nonexposed group based on age and sex was recruited from the general population. Respiratory symptoms were investigated using a questionnaire adapted from the British Medical Research Council's standardized respiratory questionnaire. Participants underwent lung function test using a portable spirometer (MIR SPIROBANK). Data were analyzed with STATA version 15 software. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of respiratory symptoms in e-waste workers was statistically higher in the exposed group (33.1% vs. 21.6%; p = 0.027). Chest tightness (11.8% vs. 2.1%; p = 0.003) and breathlessness (6.8% vs. 1.4%; p = 0.018) were the most reported symptoms by e-waste workers. Lung function testing showed a higher proportion of disorders among e-waste workers (25.0% vs. 14.9%, p = 0.029), with a higher proportion of probable restrictive (10.8% vs. 2.7, p = 0.005) and mixed (4.1% vs. 0%, p = 0.013) ventilatory disorders. Handling or working with e-waste was found associated with a significant reduction in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) by 0.4 L (95% CI: 0.3-0.6) and forced vital capacity (FVC) by 0.75 L (95% CI: 0.6-0.9) after adjustment for age, BMI, smoking habits, asthma history, and daily income. CONCLUSION: Work involving e-waste is associated with a higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms and with an increased risk of FEV1 and FVC decline, as well as of lung function impairment, particularly of restrictive disorders. Further studies to better clarify this association are needed. Awareness on this major public health threat should be raised in other sub-Saharan and Asian urban areas.

Prematurity, intrauterine growth retardation and low birth weight: risk factors in a malaria-endemic area in southern Benin.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to describe the contribution of prematurity and small for gestational age (SGA) to low birth weight (LBW) as well as to identify risk factors associated with preterm birth and SGA and to explore their impact on birth weight. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in southern Benin between June 2007 and July 2008. At delivery, women's characteristics and newborn's anthropometric measurements were collected. Gestational age was estimated using the Ballard method; SGA was defined using the William's reference curve. Analyses were performed by multiple logistic and linear regressions. RESULTS: In total, 526 mother-infant pairs were enrolled. LBW (<2500 g), prematurity (<37 weeks) and SGA accounted for 9.1%, 10.3% and 25.3% of the sample, respectively. Infant's male gender was associated with a lower risk of prematurity (p=0.03). Low maternal anthropometric status (p<0.001), primiparity (p=0.017) and infant's male gender (p=0.015) were associated with an increased risk of SGA. Only low maternal anthropometric status and primiparity were associated with an increased risk of LBW, and their effect on LBW was mediated by SGA. CONCLUSIONS: SGA was the main mechanism mediating the effect of risk factors on LBW. Maternal undernutrition (either short stature or low anthropometric status) was the most important of them.

Factors associated with growth patterns from birth to 18 months in a Beninese cohort of children.

The aim of this study was to analyze factors influencing the growth pattern of children from birth to 18 months. A longitudinal prospective study was conducted in three maternity wards in Southern Benin. Inclusion took place between June 2007 and July 2008; children were followed-up until 18 months of age. Height-for-age and weight-for-height Z-scores were computed using the newborn's anthropometric measurements taken at delivery, every month up to 6 months and then quarterly. Infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices and malarial morbidity were recorded. Gestational age was estimated using the Ballard method; William's sex-specific reference curve of birth weight-for-gestational-age was used to determine intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). Analyses were performed on 520 children using a linear mixed model. Low birth weight (coef=-0.43; p=0.002), IUGR (coef=-0.49; p<0.001), maternal short stature (coef=-0.25; p=0.001) and maternal low weight status (coef=-0.19; p=0.006) were significantly associated with growth impairment. Only LBW (coef=-0.28; p=0.05) and maternal low weight status (coef=-0.23; p=0.004) were associated with wasting. A good IYCF score was positively associated with weight gain (coef=0.14; p<0.001) whereas we found a paradoxical association with length (coef=-0.18; p<0.001). Malaria morbidity was not associated with growth. LBW, IUGR and maternal low weight status and height were important determinants of children's growth. These results reinforce and justify continuing public health initiatives to fight IUGR and LBW and break the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition.